This was a text found on a stela in the temple of Khons at Thebes. The text is an account of “Princess Bekhen,” a fanciful tale prompted by the marriage of Ramesses II (1290–1224 B.C.E.) to the daughter of the Hittite ruler Hattusilis III in 1257 B.C.E. The tale involves demons and the god Khons and was popular for several centuries in Egypt.
Bentresh Stela This is a stela dating to 300 B.C.E., relating a story concerning Ramesses II (1290–1224 B.C.E.) at Ramesses. The story details the arrival of the princess of Bekhtan (identified as the land of the Hittite). She was given to Ramesses as a wife and her name is listed in the stela as Bentresh, although she was probably Maat Hornefruré. In the legend promoted by the Bentresh Stela, the princess was possessed by a demon when she arrived in Egypt. She was so lovely that the pharaoh made an effort to free her of her evil spell. Finally, when all else failed, an image of the god Khons was brought into her presence and the demon fled. The story appears to have been a commemorative fancy concerning the marriage of Ramesses II to a Hittite princess during his reign. The legend appeared in other variations as well and was probably fostered by the priests of Khons in an attempt to bolster the reputa- tion of their god, by linking him with the glories of Ramesses II.
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